A grammar rule which says that the superlative of adjectives goes with the definite article "The". Thus a question like this would be incorrect: "Is there a best school around here?" Instead, we would ask: "Is there a good school?'' and then " Which is the best school?"

Yes,after marriage,I have to change.I become a diligent housekeeper.Because the chinese lunar New Year is coming,I had to wipe the windows ,mop the floor, sweep the ceiling.At true, all of this work was done by my mother before.Now I joined in a new family,I take place of the character of my mother in her family.Besides this,I had to face many bills such as water and electricity,property management fee and so on.My wallet is reducing.The import thing is to giving red envelopes to children when you marry is a Chinese tradition for lunar New Year.This year is the first year that I give red envelopes to children of my relatives ,my friends,my colleague.You can guess,my one month salary disappear again.Everything made me scorched by the flames.

I hope your everything is good.Though you don't like your new office,you should learn to accept it.2013 is a new year which is a year all of us spent the doomsday safely .We have healthy body,family, friends and work.Those are lucky things.Please cherish our life.

hi dear friends ,I m the new member of this thread. I m from Turkey and I m trying to be a teacher.My first message seems quite different:) sorry for that. I really want to share something and learn something from you. I need to revise my English ,so I find this thread very helpful. I will be happy ,if you welcome me. I need your suggests and advices ...

I hope everything is going well with you. One week break , relax because of university holiday, enjoy it.Don't fancy that that a rich family is behind my wife, the story is that my boss and I were living in a neighbour for some years. We rarely had intercourse for some times. So we know each other well.Be sure that men never let women make decision about men's domain. But it is a good strategy that sometimes men hid behind the women, in fact it is a policy for a man who is in predicament.Man is intolerant ,so a woman can play her role.Of course I don't suggest my wife for such a work ,but if she insists on it ,or do it hiddenly ,I don't object her .Good Luck,Mohsen

Welcome to this place! Thank you very much for sharing a useful grammar point with us. We are some learners from different countries and we are learning English through writing and reading. We would be happy if we could have you in our community. Writing has helped me learn grammar and spelling. In fact, effective writing needs using correct structures. When people care about the grammar of English in their writings, they learn it; because 'practice makes perfect'.

Would you please give us some information about yourself? I hope to hear more from you.

Welcome to this thread! Thank you very much for joining us. As I wrote to Trinti, we are some learners and we take every opportunity to improve our English. Therefore, people who have some experience in teaching or learning English can be very useful for us. We appreciate your presence in this place and are ready to learn from your posts. In particular, I am sitting for an important exam in March. One the exam modules is English. In that module, the majority of questions are either directly or indirectly related to vocabulary. I am terrible at memorizing new words. I forget them easily. Many years ago, I studied '504 Absolutely Essential Words', which is a famous book when it comes to practising vocabulary. However, as a nice English proverb says 'you lose it if you don't use it'; I lost what I learned. I am working on that book again. Right now, it is open on the desk. Any advice on making the range of vocabulary large, and most importantly, keeping them in mind? You may say, "well, use them!", but how? They are some strange words. Even native English speakers don't use them in their everyday conversations!

Thank you very much for encouraging me , yes I have healthy body and good friends , so I am sure that I will have a promising future ,it is not a compliment ,it is a fact that when we have a healthy body ,decent family and good friends we have happiness and well-fare.My criticism was against lack of time for living , because I think that working is the vain time that doesn't count a life. Happy new year to you , I know that from 2/2/2013 the China in holiday for two weeks. Hope you enjoy your holiday.Dear Nana , how much is the price of gold in China ? In Iran it is a custom that when the couple want to marry , bridegroom should buy a set gold for the groom. At present it is a big problem for the young people who want to marry . do you have such a custom in China? Good Luck,Mohsen

Hi and welcome to this forum , It is a good idea to improve your English , in fact all people in this forum have the similar goal , We can extend our abilities in English writing skills by writing to each other .

Many people prefer to write about culture and their own country . My country is I R of Iran with 75000000 population , We are speaking Farsi ( Persian) , the people of Iran are Muslim , Iran history return 2500 years ago and we have a lot of historical places which attract many tourists from all over the world to visit there.

Iran is also rich in oil and Gas , there are many oil well in south and south west of Iran ,also there are many oil rigs in Persian Gulf which are belong to Iran.Please write about yourself and your country.

WELCOME to this thread! Thank you for joining us. I am sure, we will help each other learn many things. I believe, Learning English is one of the benefits of this community. I've learned many many things from my friends. In my opinion, every person is a book. If we read them, we will learn some interesting things from them. The most important matter is reading(=making friendship and keeping it). I am not boasting, but I can claim that I am good at keeping friendship.

It's so nice to meet new friends from different countries. Please write more about your traditions and customs.

Dear Mohsen had written about his country "Iran" so I am going to write about mine "Syria"...

Syria is a country in Western Asia covers an area of 185,180 km2. Syria's neighboring countries are Turkey, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon. It consists of 14 provinces and the capital is Damascus which is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.

Syria has a traditional society with a long cultural history. Importance is placed on family, religion, education and self-discipline and respect. The Syrians are very kind, peaceful and helpful people. In Syria there was the first alphabet by The Phoenicians which discovered in Ugarit (modern Ras-Shamra)..

the climate in Syria is mild and the nature is wonderful. there are a lot of different magical places. For example, the northwest part is bordering the Mediterranean and it's full of green areas and mountains, in the northeast of the country you can enjoy the beauty of the desert. On the other hand, there are a lot of famous historical places which Tourists from all over the world come to see.I really recommend you to visit Syria because it's one of the wonderful places in the world.

Thank you for reply.Yes,we will have a Chinese New Year holiday which is a important festival for all of chinese.Many people who work in the other place will come back their country in any case .As a result,there are many many people in the train ,in the air,in the bus.This is a migrate which is called "spring move".I have only a week not two weeks.It is from Feb 9 to Feb 15.

As you talk about the gold problem,there is a different custom in China.In the south of China,especially in Guangdong and Hongkongk,bridegroom only buy a gold or PT ring for the groom.The bridegroom's mother will buy a gold bracelet ,a gold necklace and a gold ring for the groom.What is the custom in Iran?

Dear Nana,Hope you enjoy your holiday , do you eat different kind of pastries ,cookies, cakes and chocolates during your holiday ?

One of the Iranian 's custom is meeting their relatives during the new year holiday and eating sweet things ,nuts at the home.

The custom of marriage in Iran is different , but generally when bridegroom and bride go to the market ,the bridegroom should buy a set of gold for the bride ,a box which contains ring ,necklace, bracelet and ear ring ,also he buys different dresses , shoes.In my city bridegroom buys shoe for all members of bride's family.One night the bridegroom's family goes to the bride's home and deliver all of the things ,gold , shoes, dresses , to the bride in special ceremony.B.WishesMohsen

A big hello to all my dear friends posting here. I hope that everyone is doing fine. Actually it has been a long time since I had to quit writing here. I do not know what to write now and how to start, so you might want to take my sincere apologies into consideration if I seem so lame

The first time I posted something here there were few people writing, but now I see there are a lot of English maniacs (no offense, it is a friendly adjective ) who want to write and improve their skills. I really envy the ones who used to write here while I could not and that I guess I missed a lot of happy and sad moments here among my loveliest friends.

Oh did I just do it? Did I started? I cannot believe it. I am writing this post to say that I want to be in from now on, and to write whenever I had access to this www!

Hiiii there. How are you doing ostad? How is everything with you? Do you know how much I have missed writing to you? Do you know how much I have missed those days that I could regularly write in here?

How is the family? Now you are the Big Daddy Big congratulations again. I know the kids would be great scientists, I see it from here!

You know the reason I could not write, well the guess what? I passed konkuuuuuur LOL but hopefully just passed! I do not really know about the results. omumi part was normal, ekhtesasi was too meticulous. The only thing that makes me happy is that I am sure I tried my best and never was lazy this year. Whenever I found time, I tried to study. You know that I really want this by all my heart and I have tried, the rest is with God to help!Oh and I am also prepared for any tragic consequences. I have thought of trying looking for a job in an institute if I had to study for another year, so...uhhh hard to say anything about future, ey?

So how is everything with you? I have just started reading novels and articles all over again. This is really my very best hobby in this tiny dormitory.

Before writing to you I could think of a gazillion topics to write about but now...my mind just slipped LOL

Hope you are doing well,I think that each custom has a root in the history, but I really don't know why some customs were generated. When the boy as bridegroom buys some pairs of shoes for his wife , his wife's mother , his wife ground mother , his wife's sisters, he wants to offer his respect to his wife's family . he loves his wife , he loves his wife family , so he presents them the gift. You know when people love someone, they show their love by giving, flowers and gift.I don't like to follow the predecessors. I bought a VCD radio tape recorder as gift to my wife's mother, and a camera for my wife's sister, her grandmother had been died ,God blesses her

How are you? I hope all is going well with you. Welcome back to your own home! Thank you for keeping the friendship going. That's very kind of you.

Oh, congratulations! You have taken Master Exam! I am sure you will be successful. You have tried your best. It is said that trying hard is the secret key of all success.Therefore, you will pass the exam successfully. Where are you going to study MA?

As you may know, on 18th Esfand( in 7th or 8th of March. Maybe none of them! hehehehe, I haven't checked!) I am sitting for PhD exam. One the modules is 'The English Language'. I have not studied for it. I've focused on my professional subjects which are directly related to Physics.

What should I do with English? How can I prepare myself for the exam? Have you got any suggestions? How can you help me(as an English student, you are supposed to help me, aren't you?)

I am not sure, but according to some friends who have taken the PhD exam in previous years, the English module includes 20 questions about grammar and structure; 20 questions about vocabulary, 20 questions about reading passages,...( 100 questions I guess! WOW, I am not sure about the distribution of questions and the number! I haven't checked the modules yet.!!!)

Oh, tonight, I am going to have a glimpse at the module. Almost all the friends, who have already sat for PhD exam, are complaining about the difficulty of questions! Someone said he couldn't find some of the words even in dictionaries! Oh my God! As everybody knows, a language is like an ocean; deep, wide and vast. Learning a language is like scanning an ocean with a needle. How can we do that? It is really impossible!

Anyway, it seems some silly people are making decision about the method of testing and the sort of questions. I always say to my students; "Surely, I am going to see what you have learned or what you know. There is no need to check what you don't know. If Someone checks to find out what we don't know, he/she will find a lot. Testing people is like analyzing their characteristics. If you look for some dirt(weaknesses) you will find a lot. So, we should look for goodness, although it is scarce." In other words, the philosophy of exams is seeing what the learners have learned. However, apparently, everything is upside down in this part of the globe! Hehehehe...

After this criticism, I think I should tell you quite straightforwardly that I need your help. I don't know how! You MUST help me! This is one of the basic rules of friendship.

I am waiting for you suggestions and advice. I hope I will receive the reply of this post earlier than 18th ESfand.

Pleasure to meet your post, as you said you haven't time to be here because you were studying for entrance university exam , I hope you receive a good grade and continue you studying for M.A. What is the major you'v chosen for M.A.?You are right I am an English maniac, but many things distracted my mind, one day I forget my home phone No. I should be checked up for Alzheimer. I don't know is it common someone forgets his home phone No.or post Code? I lose my confidence when I see my situation. So much ID and password , and 20 Bank Cards, petrol Card, National ID Card, Shop card , Guarantee Cards….so on. Electronic life.Have you ever forgot your close friend's name , your home No.?